Academic Libraries and Patrons with Disabilities Rozita Petrinska, MLS Head of FEEIT/FME Library Skopje, Macedonia 2009 JFDP Fellow

Role of Academic Libraries Support the mission of the University/Faculty Serve as an access point to information resources (support studying, teaching and research) - help users locate, retrieve and use materials Provide space for studying Promote life-long learning Promote information literacy

Patrons with Disabilities Physical handicap (motor or orthopedic disabilities) Blind or visually impaired persons Deaf or hearing impaired persons People with speech and language disorder Persons with learning disorder Mental handicap (mild or moderate)

IFLA – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Access to libraries for persons with disabilities –CHECKLIST (Brigitta Irval and Gyda Skat Nielsen), 2005

Providing Physical Access for Patrons with Disabilities (1) Suitable parking space for the disabled Automatic doors (power doors) Wheelchair ramps with railings Smooth and non-slip entrance No doorsteps

Providing Physical Access for Patrons with Disabilities (2) Entry phone accessible for deaf users Clear signage (pictogram signs) Elevators suitable for the disabled Especially designed toilets for the disabled

Access to library services and materials (1) Shelves reachable form a wheelchair Accessible computer spots with Assistive Technology (AT) Enough space between shelves Visible and audible fire alarm Chairs with sturdy armrests Adjustable circulation/reference desk Induction Loop System for hearing impaired persons

Access to library services and materials (2) Adaptive keyboards or keyboards overlays for users with motor impairments Designated computers equipped with screen reading programs, enlargement, and synthetic speech Designated computers equipped with spelling, and other instructional software suitable for persons with dyslexia

Assistive technology (AT) devices can enable people with disabilities to take advantage of traditional library resources and services; low-tech devices, such as magnifiers, or high tech devices, such as computer software with large print or voice output.

Aid for persons with disabilities (1) A colored tactile line (yellow line) Magnifying glass Illuminated magnifier Tape recorder CD player

Aid for persons with disabilities (2) Closed-Circuit Televisions (Print Magnifiers) Alternate keyboards (Programmable keyboards , On-screen keyboards, Large Print/Large Keys) Alternate Mice Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Software and Scanners Digital Audio Information System (DAISY) Computers with screen adapters and software designed for persons with reading and cognitive disabilities

Aid for persons with disabilities (3) TTY/TDD’s Voice Recognition Assistive Listening Devices personal use (PocketTalkers) group use (conference room systems

Media formats for people with disabilities E-books Large print materials Tactile picture books Braille books Easy-to-read books Talking books/periodicals/newspapers Video/DVD books with subtitles and/or sign language

Communication with patrons with disabilities Specially trained staff Home delivery service Consultations for persons with disabilities Guided tours for people with disabilities Information about access, services, materials and programs available in alternative formats

Library web-site access Design – logical and easy to navigate Software to enlarge text, change font and contrast, length of lines and space between lines Search capability Accompany audio with text

Cooperation with disability organizations Planned activities Meetings, conferences Campaigns and exhibits Booths with info materials Discussion groups Regular meetings with organizations Projects Joint media contacts

Benchmarking – University of Iowa Assistance for Users with Disabilities http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/help/disabilities.html Other University of Iowa Resources University of Iowa's List of Disability Resources Information Technology Services (ITS) Assistive Technology Support Student Disability Services Faculty and Staff Disability Services

Acts that have made difference USA – Rehabilitation Act (1973) - Section 504 Americans with Disabilities Act –ADA (1990), The UK Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Act (2002) UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) - Article 24 - Education

Academic Libraries in Macedonia and Patrons with Disabilities Legislation (RM) Constitution of Republic of Macedonia Numerous Laws (different spheres of life) Law on Prevention and Protection from Discrimination (Official Gazette of RM, No. 50, from 13.04.2010)

Academic Libraries in Macedonia and Patrons with Disabilities A Survey (1) Thesis: Academic Libraries in Macedonia do not provide complete access to library programs and services to patrons with disabilities

Academic Libraries in Macedonia and Patrons with Disabilities A Survey (2) Electronic questionnaire 9 questions (7 yes-no questions, 2 multiple-choice questions) sent to 21 e-mail addresses (2 reported as failed, 12 people filled-in) sent to librarians in academic libraries (one per institution) anonymous 63% response

58.33% of the respondents reported to have disabled patrons Survey Results (1) 58.33% of the respondents reported to have disabled patrons

Survey Results (2)

Survey Results (3) 75% of the libraries have had no contacts with organizations or associations of people with disabilities In only 16.67% of the libraries a seminar, training or lecture was organized treating the library services and programs for people with disabilities

Survey Results (3) 58.33% of the academic libraries have enabled physical access (power doors, ramps, special parking places etc.) to PWD 41.67% have enabled access to library programs and services to PWD 16.67% provide materials appropriate for persons with special needs (e-books, books with Braille alphabet, video materials, books with large print etc.)

Survey Results (4)

Survey Results (5) Conclusions: Academic Libraries in Macedonia do not provide enough support for the students/staff with special needs; Indirect discrimination;

Further steps Raise public awareness Media, conferences, seminars Raise awareness among the persons with disabilities Provide funds for SWD (state level, university level) Make researches to support the campaign against discrimination and discrimination in education

Bibliography (1): Americans with disabilities Act of 1990, URL: http://www.ada.gov/pubs/ada.htm B. Irvall, G. S. Nielsen, Access to libraries for persons with disabilities - checklist , IFLA, The Hague (2005). Disability in higher education. OECD (2003). OECD iLibrary. URL: www.oecd-ilibrary.org/ Equity in education: students with disabilities,learning difficulties and disadvantages. Statistics and indicators, OECD (2004). OECD iLibrary. URL: www.oecd-ilibrary.org/ H. C. Dequin, I. Schilling, S. Huang. “The attitudes of academic librarians toward disabled person's, in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 28-31, March 1988.

Bibliography (2): IFLA: about the Library services to people with special needs section. URL:http://www.ifla.org/en/about-lsn K. Hadjikakou, D. Hartas, Higher education provision for students with disabilities in Cyprus, University of Warwick, 2007 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10734-007-9070-8 Librarians connections: assistive technologies for patrons who are blind or have other disabilities, URL:http://www.disabilityresources.org/DRMlibs-ass.html M. K. Mason, User Groups in Academic Libraries, URL:http://www.moyak.com/papers/library-reference-service-users.html Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law 93-112 93rd Congress, H. R. 8070 September 26, 1973, URL:http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/documents/ycr/REHABACT.HTM

Bibliography (3): The University of Iowa Libraries. URL: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/ UN: Enable. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, URL: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=150 Закон за спречување и заштита од дискриминација, Службен весник на РМ, бр. 50, 13.04.2010 URL:http://www.pravo.org Џералдин Скалион консалтинг, Шила Роџерс, Прирачник заштита од дискриминација:примери на добра пракса за примена на принципот на еднаков третман и недискриминација во Европската унија, Министерство за труд и социјална политика, Сектор за еднакви можности, 2010, URL:http://www.mtsp.gov.mk/WBStorage/Files/priracnik_antidiskriminacija.pdf

Thank you for your attention!